DOGS WITH BRAINS

Opunake Times, 8 December 1931, Page 3

DOGS WITH BRAINS

DEMONSTRATION IN WALES. A record crowd saw a sight rhey will never forget when one of the most famous sheepdog handlers in Britain achieved yet another triumph iit the international sheepdog trials at Llandudno, Wales, recently. Mr. A. Millar—known as "Sandy" Millar—secured the highest "brace" award of the sheepdog world. A Daily Express said "I saw Sandy Millar after the contests. 'Well, well,' he said, 'it's a grand moment.' " Here is a picture—and no words would be adequate—of what a man and his two dogs must do to win the international "brace!" championships. Before one lies a stretch of grass, crossed by a. bank, in the centre of which is a gate. Behind the bank the ground rises sharply, here a fold, there a rocky mound. Five hundred yards away, separated by ;at least 200 yards, are two small flocks—five sheep in each—one flock flaunting a red ribbon round the neck of each sheep. At a wo id from the judge the shepherd sends off his two dogs—one on the left-hand course and the other on the right-hand course. They circle round each of their flocks, "lift" them and bring them slowly to a mark 50 yards from the other side of the ga,te in the bank. Here the two flocks join, are driven by the dogs slowly and evenly down to the shepherd, and then guided away from him through the gate 150 yards distant. Once through the gate the sheep cross to the far .side of tlic course, and then, through yet another gate, Iback to 'the shepherd. This is no easy work, for the shepherd may not move from his post to help the dogs. The dogs seem to think like men. With the flocks again by his side, the shepherd "sheds" them, separating the red-collared sheep from the unmarked. The two lots must then be penned separately, far apart. While the one lot is obstinately refusing to enter the wicket hurdles, the other must wait its turn under the watchful -eye of the second clog, who lies crouching a few yards before them. And all this must bo done in 25 minutes, calmly and quietly—with no Ti list a kos, if possible, or with a loss o? only four points, if one is to to win the championship, as "Sandy" Millar did.